Locking mechanism



April 1934- J. B. KELLY ET AL 1,954,135

LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Bl JP WITNFSQFQ; INVENTORS umakenficmqtma er q 4 I B THEIR A TTORNE Y llllllllmmmlllllllll%'|l|||l||llIlllllllllllll April 10, 1934- J. B. KELLY El AL LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ety- INVENTORS arlT. M 51121 THE/R A TTORNEY 55-1 11- Ii ZSSES: [rm IWMM 4 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 LOCKING MECHANISM John B. Kelly and Carl T. Majer, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 12, 1933, Serial No. 675,386

6 Claims.

This invention relates-to locks, and to locks particularly adapted for remotely controlling doors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide devices which, in case of hold-up, may be operated to confine the robber within the building, and, at least, deter him from escape.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanisms which may be utilized with different types of doors to lock or unlock the same from a remote point.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide mechanisms incorporating locking means which falls by gravity or from its own weight.

According to the invention, the locking mechanism comprises a gravity bolt of considerable weight, means for holding said bolt in raised position, magnetic means for releasing said first means, and means for raising said bolt to a position where it is again retained by said first means.

The invention also contemplates the employ-' ment of devices for receiving the said bolt for locking doors against movement.

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention, and the views therein are as follows: Figure 1 is a front plan view of the locking device with the front of the casing removed,

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view on the no line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the detent controlling mechanism,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a revolving door showing the locking device incorporated d therewith,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the doors of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the upper portion of swinging doors with the in- 4O vention applied thereto,

Figure 7 is a view of the upper portion of an ordinary door, showing the position of the invention in relation thereto, 7

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a pair of swing- 45 ing doors showing a modified arrangement of locking control,

Figure 9 is a horizontal, sectional view, showing the arrangement of locking mechanism when revolving doors are incorporated in wide outer walls of buildings,

Figure 10 is a front edge view of the locking plate employed in Figures 4 and 5, and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a receptacle for receiving the lower end of the bolt.

As illustrated in the drawings, the lock mechanism is incorporated in a casing 12 and consists primarily of a solenoid 13, a detent l4, and a transformer 15. The solenoid is usually connected through the wires in the cable 16 to line current, and is provided with an armature 17 to which is plvotally secured a link 18 whose other end is pivotally secured to the upper end of a heavy bolt 19. This bolt extends downward through the bottom of the casing, as shown in Figures land 2. These figures show the bolt in its raised position. v I

The detent 14 is mechanically controlled, having the magnets 20 and a keeper 21 which is hinged at 22. Its front end 23 is adapted to engage one side of a butterfly locking plate 24 pivotally mounted along its center at 25.

The other end of said plate bears against a detent 26 which is pivotally mounted at 27. This detent 26 is provided with a spring 28 for urging the front end thereof outward, and this front end is hooked, as shown in Figure 2, and is provided with a roller 29, as later explained.

The bolt 19 has a recess 30 and in this recess is a latch 31, which. is pivoted at its upper end while a spring 32 in said recess swings the lower end of said latch outward.

The bolt 19 passes through a guide plate 33 and the bottom of the casing is'provided with a limiting plate 34 which is engaged by the bottom of the latch 30 to limit its downward movement.

At one side of the casing 12 is a spring contact arm 35 having one wire connected thereto, while the bolt'19 is provided with another contact 36, also having a wire connected thereto, so that, as said bolt drops, these contacts engage and thereby complete an electric circuit which may extend to a burglar alarm siren, or any apparatus for giving notice that something unusual is occur ring in the building using this apparatus.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 10, which show revolving doors, the casing 12, when possible, is mounted on the revolving door casing and the bolt 19 made sufiiciently long to extend downward and between the sections of said door.

In the use of the device on revolving doors, there is provided a segmental rack 37 which has upwardly extending lugs 38 and downwardly extending flanges 39, by which the segments are secured to the upper part of the doors and between the sections thereof.

The space between these lugs 38 is sufficiently great so that even upon the swift rotation of the doors, should the bolt fall upon the top of one of these lugs, it will have sufficient time to fall between two of them and thus secure the door against further rotation.

In case the revolving doors are enclosed within building walls of considerable thickness, a pair of the devices 12 will be located, as shown in Figure 9, the spacing between these devices being approximately one-eighth of the circle subscribed by the doors in their movement, so that the door can only be swung one-eighth of a revolution before striking against one or the other of the bolts, depending from the casing 12.

In Figure 6 there has been shown a pair of swinging doors and in this instance it will be necessary to provide two of the locking devices for each door, and in order to prevent the mere raising of the bolt 19 so as to release the door, there may be provided a box-like container into which the end of the bolt may fall, thereby preventing the raising of the same to release the door.

In some instances, it may be preferable to employ the mechanism shown in Figure 8, the arcuate or semi-circular plates 41 being located on the floor, and the ribs or lugs 42 extending upward therefrom.

In this case the casing 12 would be fastened at the bottom of the door and the bolt would fall between two of the lugs in the same manner as explained in connection with Figures 4 and 5.

It will, of course, be apparent that upon energization of the magnets 20, the keeper 21 will have its long end drawn down upon said magnets, thereby releasing the end of the butterfly plate 24, whereupon the bolt 19, if in the position shown in Figure 2, and by reason of its weight, will, by its latch 31, swing the detent 26 inward so that the said latch can readily pass beneath the same, assisted by the roller 29, and, therefore, allow the heavy bolt 19 to fall by its own weight.

As the bolt falls, contact will be made between the contacts 35 and 36 so as to actuate any alarm devices connected into the circuit controlled thereby. When it is desired to raise the bolt 19, a circuit is established which energizes the solenoid 13 which immediately draws up the armature 17 which carries the bolt 19, and as the magnets 20 are now deenergized, the detent will be locked in the position shown in Figure 2, and the latch 31 will press the spring 32 inward, and the end of said latch pass over the roller 29 so as to again engage with the upper face of the same, as shown in Figure 2.

It often occurs that a few seconds determines the capture or escape of robbers. In case revolving doors are used, there is, of course, nothing to prevent the robber from breaking the glass of the doors and climbing through the doors themselves, but this will consume some seconds of time and may be just sufiicient time to enable his capture.

Moreover, it is quite likely that the robber will use the butt of his pistol for breaking the glass in the door rather than employing his pistol for shooting the officers and employes of the bank.

It is a psychological fact that when a robber is confined, his first thought is for escape, and anything or any one who stands in his way is usually eliminated in the apparently easiest way. The locked doors being, therefore, the thing which will prevent his immediate escape, the robber will, undoubtedly, give his attention to the doors, and may, thereby, affoird the opportunity to someone in the bank to efiect his capture by shooting or other means.

In the present day and age, the majority of banks are equipped with revolving doors, and in this day of air-conditioned buildings, these doors are usually employed for the entire twelve months of the year, in winter being used for keeping out the cool air and in summer, for keeping out the warm air.

Of course, the invention will find widespread use in many places other than the specific installations here discussed. For the sake of example, in cell blocks of penal institutions, warehouses, or in fact, any situation where the locking or unlocking of doors from remote control is essential.

Also, the remote control feature of the apparatus will, in case of burglaries, permit the unlocking of the door or doors for the entrance of aid at the will of the operator.

Therefore, while we have shown swinging and hinged doors, and applied the invention thereto, the majority of installations may probably deal with revolving doors, and Figures 4, 5, 9 and 10 illustrate the construction and organization for effecting a complete revolving door lock.

Of course, the locking mechanism illustrated may be modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An electrically actuated lock comprising a casing, a solenoid having an armature, a bolt suspended from said armature, a spring pressed latch in said bolt, and a detent having means engaging said latch for normally supporting said bolt and for releasing said latch upon the energization of the magnet of said detent whereby said bolt will fall of its own weight.

2. A gravity lock comprising a heavy bolt, a latch therein, means engaging said latch to hold said bolt in raised position, magnetic means for releasing said first means to in turn release said latch to permit said bolt to fall, a solenoid, and an armature in said solenoid for supporting said bolt and for raising same to engage said latch with said first means when said solenoid is energized. 4

3. A gravity lock comprising a heavy bolt, a latch therein, means engaging said latch to hold said bolt in raised position, magnetic means for releasing said first means to in turn release said latch to permit said bolt to fall, a solenoid, and an armature in said solenoid from which said bolt is pivotally suspended for raising same to engage said latch with said first means when said solenoid is energized.

4. A gravity lock comprising a heavy bolt, a latch therein, a pivoted detent engaging said latch to hold said bolt in raised position, a butterfly locking plate engaging said detent, magnetic means for releasing said plate and detent to in turn release said latch to permit said bolt to fall, a solenoid, and an armature in said solenoid for supporting said bolt and for raising same to engage said latch with said detent when said solenoid is energized.

5. A gravity lock comprising a heavy bolt, a latch therein, a pivoted detent engaging said latch to hold said bolt in raised position, magnetic means for releasing said detent to in turn release said latch to permit said bolt to fall, a solenoid, and an armature in said solenoid having a bolt pivotally suspended therefrom, said solenoid, when energized, being adapted to raise said bolt to a position where it is latched and supported by said detent.

6. A gravity lock comprising a heavy bolt, a latch therein, a pivoted detent having a roller engaging said latch to hold said bolt in raised position, magnet means for releasing said detent to in turn release said latch to permit said bolt to fall, a solenoid, and an armature in said solei noid for supporting said bolt and for raising same to engage said latch with said detent when said solenoid is energized.

JOHN B. KELLY. CARL T. MAJER. 

